International Journal of Value Chain Management (13 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Management Priorities of Technology-Based Growth Ventures in Two Finnish High-Tech Business Contexts  
  by Anna-Mari Simunaniemi, Matti Muhos, Martti Saarela 
  Abstract: There is a need for new knowledge about growth in technology-based growth ventures in order to strengthen business development within this context. This retrospective multiple-case study clarifies the context-specific viewpoints related to the early stages of technology-intensive companies in two cities in Finland. The research question is: What are the management priorities of technology-intensive growth ventures in Finnish high-tech contexts? Using the sequential incident technique and semi-structured interviews, the managers of ten companies were asked to describe their business growth. The study tests the applicability of a literature-based framework for the early stages of growth in technology companies and analyses context-specific viewpoints. By taking account of the context, the study provides new insights into the growth and management of technology-intensive companies as well as into the special characteristics of different high-tech contexts. Moreover, the results provide evidence of the applicability of the framework in the selected contexts.
  Keywords: growth management; business growth; technology-intensive companies; business contexts; sequential incident technique; multiple-case study.
  
  
• Collaborative Innovation in Healthcare: A Case Study of Hospitals as Innovation Platforms  
  by Pauliina Hyrkäs, Lotta Haukipuro, Satu Väinämö, Marika Iivari, Anna Sachinopoulou, Jukka Majava 
  Abstract: Rising healthcare costs and vast business opportunities in health markets have resulted in a great demand to enhance innovation creation. However, innovation development in healthcare is challenging because of the fragmented and complicated context. Potential means to tackle the challenges include utilizing the concepts of open innovation and co-creation, which require organisations to develop new roles and relationships with multiple stakeholders. This paper analyses a 12-month co-creation project where a new collaboration model for healthcare innovations was developed by a hospital, research partners, and companies. We demonstrate how organisations experiment with collaborative innovation in the healthcare context, and what was learned from this experimentation. The study utilizes an action research approach and a case study strategy. The co-creation model applied can produce innovations that meet the end-users needs, but successful implementation requires careful planning, creating separate development paths for idea-type and more mature solutions, and the commitment of project participants.
  Keywords: co-creation; collaboration; healthcare; hospital; innovation; open innovation.
  
  
• Factors influencing farmers satisfaction with the activities of horticultural cooperatives in Thailand  
  by Pornwisa Prasertsaeng, Jayant K. Routrary, Mokbul M. Ahmad, John K. M. Kuwornu 
  Abstract: The paper assessed the determinants of members satisfaction with the activities of horticultural cooperatives in Thailand using data obtained from 290 cooperative members. The empirical results of the heteroscedasticity-corrected ordinary least squares regression revealed that the members satisfaction by with the activities of the horticultural cooperatives is influenced by business participation, meeting attendance, investment in shares, business value, trust in the committee, profitability, information flow, and coordination with development organizations, years of membership, variety of services, the presence of business partners, and the suitability of the location of the cooperatives. The recommendations for managing horticultural cooperatives are presented.
  Keywords: Agricultural cooperatives; cooperative performance; farmers; satisfaction; Thailand.
  
  
• Modelling the enablers to explore the driving power, dependence and strategic importance in achieving SC Agility  
  by Nilesh Wankhade, Goutam Kumar Kundu 
  Abstract: The environment in which supply chain (SC) operate keeps changing and so does the SC, making uncertainty as its trait. SC Agility is the key attribute which defines the capability to respond efficiently and effectively to such changes in order to achieve desired performance and achieve sustainable source of competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to identify the enablers to achieve agility in automotive aftermarket SC and further modelling these enablers to understand their driving power, dependence and strategic importance. In phased approach, this article defines the various attributes of the automotive aftermarket SC which impacts its agility based on literature review and expert interviews and establishes interaction among the variables. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) is used to present a hierarchy-based model and the mutual relationships among these enablers. ISM is supported with MICMAC analysis to determine the driving and dependence power among variables. Based on the results from the model of ISM, this paper also proposes the conceptual model and poses hypothesis for achieving SC agility and its impact on SC performance. In concluding remarks, paper provides commentary on the managerial implications, limitation of the current study along with future research directions.
  Keywords: Supply chain agility; Interpretive structural modelling; ISM; Automotive aftermarket; MICMAC; SCA enablers.
  
  
• Developing Networked Landscaping Services  
  by Per Engelseth 
  Abstract: TThe paper aims to empirically ground an adapted analytic framework for understanding how to develop landscaping services. This is based on revealing the nature of the network role and processes involved in landscaping services. Landscaping is often part of an overall construction project and has a project form of organization. A case study of a landscaping firm reveals examples of challenges in planning this form of service operation. Contingency theory is applied to reveal relationship interdependency in a network setting. This provides reasoning on how to interact to produce landscaping services. As a service, landscaping mainly is carried out through pooling resources and varying degrees of intense interaction-rooted reciprocal interdependency while customer relationships entail project-related services. This involves degrees of predominantly pooled and reciprocal interdependency. Supplies to customers need to be negotiated to the degree that production is not standardised. Supplies are, however, a combination of goods and services. This entails purchasing needs to deal with different logistics of supply. A conceptual model is developed that depicts landscaping as networked service production influenced by interdependency and carried out in what is conceptually modelled as a short supply chain.
  Keywords: Landscaping services; Construction; Contingency theory; Interdependency; Supply networks.
  
  
• Green Supplier Selection and Order Allocation: A Non-Linear Stochastic Model  
  by Pooria Hashemzahi, Amirhossein Azadnia, Masoud Rahiminezhad Galankashi, Syed Ahmad Helmi, Farimah Mokhatab Rafiei 
  Abstract: Supplier selection and order allocation is a complex managerial decision in todays competitive markets. As an important section of this area, green supplier section has been properly focused in previous literature. However, joint supplier selection and order allocation under stochastic demand is less investigated. Firstly, a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is applied to weight and select suppliers in terms of economic and environmental criteria. Secondly, a Multi-Objective Nonlinear Programming (MONLP) is developed and solved by Genetic Algorithm (GA) for the aim of order allocation. Findings of this study assist managers to systemically deal with the real-world problem of green supplier selection with different priorities and order quantities.
  Keywords: Green supplier selection; Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP); Genetic Algorithm (GA); Stochastic supplier selection.
  
  
• Customer and costs perception in a multi-channel service sales  
  by Zbigniew Pastuszak, Marcin Lipowski, Ilona Bondos 
  Abstract: Purpose Our purpose is to identify differences in perception of service purchase costs in the three marketing channels (offline, phone and online). We took into account both the general approach and the distinction for three generations of consumers (BB, X, Y).rnrnDesign/methodology/approach The study is based on a sample of 1 103 consumersrnin Poland. CAPI method was used with a standardized questionnaire. To verify research hypothesis MANOVA was used.rnrnFindings Perceived level costs of using offline channel in the service purchase process plays a role of the reference point for perceived importance of each cost components. The more familiarity with particular marketing channel, the greater the perception of costs in that channel.rnrnResearch limitations/implications Research sample limited to Polish consumers,rnas well as there is no reference to specific service categories, which may change costs perceptions of using marketing channels.rnrnPractical/Managerial implications The perceived costs of offline channel usage in the service buying process is the reference point for the importance of each cost components in each of three marketing channels. An important goal for service providers is to be perceived by their clients as one company offering multiple marketing channels and not separately through the prism of each shared channels.rnrnOriginality/value That channel cost perception is not assigned to the specific marketing channel but to the consumer the channel is perceived by. Cost perception is not static but rather it evolves along with service buyers ability of using this channel.rn
  Keywords: Cost perception; multichannel marketing; customer generations.
  
  
• Stress and Turnover Intentions: The Impact of Boundary-Spanning Interaction Activities  
  by Jessica Robinson, Paige Rutner, Karl Manrodt, Cindy Riemenschneider 
  Abstract: Workforce retention has become a major topic of concern for supply chain companies. Nevertheless, few academic studies have investigated retention issues surrounding the supply chain management profession. Taking into consideration that stressful working conditions is a major dissatisfying factor of supply chain managers, our study draws from the challenge stressor-hindrance stressor theoretical framework to identify activities that contribute to boundary-spanner stress and turnover intentions. Five theoretically grounded hypotheses are tested with survey data collected from 281 information technology professionals. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was the performed analysis technique. The results indicate that negotiation interactions, training interactions, and interaction frequency each contribute to boundary-spanner stress, and as a result, their turnover intentions. Information processing interactions fail to have a significant effect on boundary-spanner stress. This study contributes to the challenge/hindrance-stressor model and addresses managerial decisions affecting retention in supply chain companies.
  Keywords: Interdepartmental interactions; internal integration; boundary-spanning; partial least squares structural equation modeling.
  
  
• IN THE BOWLING ALLEY: ACCEPTANCE OF INTELLIGENT PACKAGING CONCEPT IN EUROPEAN MARKETS  
  by Ville Voipio, Kalle Elfvengren, Jukka Korpela 
  Abstract: Academia has discussed intelligent packaging as a concept to drive business performance using item level data throughout companies supply chains. Despite the vivid discussion of the conceptual benefits, the market acceptance perspective has often been despised; this research paper aims to close that gap. The theoretical background comes from technology diffusion models, against which a survey across six European countries was conducted. According to the results, category-specific best practices dominate new technology acceptance, and the digital transformation of packaging is linked to supply chain and marketing rather than IT to be handled. Surprisingly, the geographical location of respondents came up as a side influencer and customer experience had less of an importance. At the end of the paper, a feasibility model is presented offering five parameters (volume, value, experiences, complexity and innovation spirit) to predict the success of intelligent packaging as it undergoes category-specific validation in the markets.
  Keywords: intelligent packaging; radio-frequency identification (RFID); innovation diffusion; supply chain digitalization; internet of things.
  
  
• Integrated Decision Support System for Manufacturing Value Chain.  
  by Bhushan Purohit, Vikas Manjrekar, Vivek Singh, Bhupesh Lad 
  Abstract: The increasing level of automation in manufacturing calls for a decision support system, that synchronizes various interdependent functions of a value chain. Such a support system will inherently be based on parametric level integration of value chain functions. Research on integrated planning is increasingly getting momentum. However, the majority of these researches are exploratory in nature and are restricted to simplistic assumptions. Moreover, a composite indicator to evaluate the performance of such support system is missing. Present work aims to provide a decision support system by integrating key decisions pertaining to production, maintenance, quality, and material supply. Novelty of the work lies in integrating the value chain as a whole, while considering the function which extends beyond a manufacturing setup. Further, a composite performance index called "Overall Operations Rating (OOR)" is explicated to simultaneously accommodate multiple performance indicators of any manufacturing shop floor. The developed approach shows significant improvisation in system performance over the existing decision-making systems. For a specific environment, a reduction of around 15 percent in total operating cost and improvement of around 12 percent in ORR are reported using the proposed approach. Further, the application of the demonstrated approach is extended to a broad range of manufacturing environment which generalizes the results and helps in developing decision making guidelines for practicing managers
  Keywords: Scheduling;Maintenance;Inspection;Decision Support Systems;Integrated Decisions Making.
  
  
• Influence of the monopolistic production of mineral water on its value chain in the Czech Republic  
  by Karel Šrédl, Vladimír Kraj?ík, Milan Paták, Lucie Severová, Roman Svoboda 
  Abstract: The research subject is the sale of mineral water, the production of which has the character of a monopoly due to the control of the resources necessary for the production of this product by one firm. The goal of this article is to express the amount of economic profit (within a monopoly) of companies that produce mineral water, achieved due to their privileged position on the given segment of the market; the expression of a value chain of mineral water production will be the means of achieving this objective. The research will also result in recommendations for the behaviour of producers and consumers in a given segment of the mineral water market. The survey shows that due to their monopolistic position on the mineral water market, up to CZK 34 of the firms earnings per litre of mineral water has the character of pure economic profit; this represents, on average, a monopoly profit of 76.87 % of the price of the product.
  Keywords: bottled water; control of the resources; Czech Republic; economic profit; mineral spring; mineral water; monopoly; price; retail chain; value chain.
  
  
• Predictive Models for rail-wagon detention in Food Grain Logistics: A Technological Intervention  
  by Nitish Vinod Sawant, Vinay V. Panicker, Anoop K P 
  Abstract: This work deals with the movement of food grains in India undertaken by a food grain procurement and storage organisation. The movement is primarily achieved through the railway network, followed by the road network. The scope of the work is confined to the movement of food grains in Kerala Region through railway network. This work applies machine learning algorithms to predict the occurrence of rail-wagon detention in the warehouses. Classification models are developed to predict the occurrence of detention at warehouses, and Regression models are developed to predict the detention hours, based on the historical data. Popular algorithms used in this work are Logistic regression, k-Nearest Neighbour, Na
  Keywords: Food grain supply chain; Machine Learning algorithms; Predictive analytics; Random forest; Logistic Regression; Business Analytics.
  
  
• Information System Use and SME Characteristics in Value Chain Activities: Evidence from the Manufacturing Industry in Korea  
  by Jeong Yeon Won, Min Jae Park 
  Abstract: The alignment of business strategy and the use of information systems have been perennial topics of interest for academics and corporate executives. Although previous studies have demonstrated the importance of using information systems for corporate performance and corporate competence, the relationships between how systems are used and the characteristics of companies are still unclear. This study clustered the use of information systems of firms based on the value chain and empirically analyzed the characteristics of each cluster. The empirical analysis utilized 17 major information systems and a sample of 2,012 SMEs in the manufacturing industry. Five types of information systems (IS) use were classified as a result of clustering based on nine activities suggested in Porters theory of competitive advantage. For these cluster types, an ANOVA showed significant differences for all the company factors derived from the TOE framework. In particular, it revealed distinct differences in technical factors (such as information linkage with other companies and technical capability support) and in organizational factors (such as firm size and sales). However, environmental factors (such as industrial clusters and affiliated industries) did not indicate as much of a difference. This study was meaningful as it analyzed the main characteristics of the company in the entire value chain rather than just individual IS activities. It also suggests significant implications for alternative policies, such as the operation of industrial complexes and the activities they focus on under the constraints of SMEs.
  Keywords: Value Chain; Cluster; ANOVA; Information System; SMEs; Manufacture.